Screen Scene: Do Video Games Boost Brainpower in Toddlers and Preschoolers?

Sarah Stetner of Marysville is proudly raising two young techies. Her sons, Gabriel, 3, and Isaiah, 6, are media mavens who know their way around an iPad — and almost every other device on the market. “Leapster, iPad, Wii, Xbox, computer, they do it all,” she says. The Stetners set media limits for

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Digital Revolution: How Technology’s Transforming Teaching

As another school year gets under way, classrooms everywhere are being disrupted like never before, not by misbehaving kids, but by expanding use of technology. It’s disruption through innovation — a hallmark of the digital age — and it’s transforming how teachers teach and students learn at every g

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Too Much Tech? Tweens and Screen Addiction

Libby Boggs of Olympia says her 10-year-old son, Drake, watches about four hours of television daily: two shows and a movie, plus another hour of video games on the Xbox. If that number sounds high, it’s not. Drake’s techno time actually clocks in several hours below average. According to the Kaiser

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They’re Sexting and We Know It : The Problems of Social Media and Teens

First, the good news. With the barrage of scary stories about cyberbullies, sexting and predators stalking teens on social media sites, here’s something you may not know: After years of teens living with social media, things may not be as bad out there as you think. “People doing good, solid resear

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8 Ways to Create a Consistent Back-to-School Schedule

The advent of fall can be a chaotic time of year for families, as they try to coordinate new work and school schedules along with all the other family and kids’ activities on the docket.  One of the best ways to transition from unstructured summer days to a busy fall itinerary is by creating consist

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Ask the Parent Coach: The Benefits of Parenting Classes

  Q: Help! I know I could use some help with my kids, but I am afraid to let other people know that I can’t manage them the way that I think I should. I would be really embarrassed to attend a parenting class. Aren’t those classes for people who are in trouble with Child Protective Services? A:

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Q&A: Getting a Loan in a Tough Economy

ParentMap and Verity Credit Union bring you helpful family financial planning and money management information. This month: Getting a Loan in a Tough Economy. In the current economy, many people believe that institutions don't want to give out loans. The common perception is that "No one is lending

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Pets and Babies: Why Vigilance Is Vital

I remember the moment we decided our dog would never hurt our baby. Our firstborn had just learned to crawl. We watched with pride as she exerted her newfound independence, moving across the living room away from us. Then suddenly, she turned and crawled straight over to our dog and, without pausing

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